has been suspended and faces expulsion for expressing her feelings in a poem that she wrote about the newtown, connecticut shooting. the school says she violated their zero tolerance policy towards violence. >>> and nhl lockout negotiations continue to try to save the season. the lockout has been on now for more than 100 days. the league has already cancelled games through january 14th, and an offer is currently on the table for a 48-game season. >>> after passing through the house and now the senate, a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff still seems to be going nowhere. without a deal, tax hikes and massive spending cuts are in effect on january 1st. so here's what senate leader harry reid had to say earlier. >> this morning we've been trying to come up with some counteroffer to my friends' proposal. we've been unable to do that. i've had a number of conversations with the president, and at this stage we're not able to make a counteroffer. >> nbc news deputy political editor dominic a montenaro join us. >> hope is not a plan, and, you know, i think both sides are still far apart. i think they, yo